Compassionate God to a Rebellious People: Psalm 78

Psalm 78

God split the rocks to give them drink, He brought forth streams from the rock when He struck the rock. He rained down manna from heaven "Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance"{24} He even rained meat upon them according to their desires. He provided so much quail around their camp that is took 2 days to gather all the food.

But God's anger burned against them "Because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation."{22} "The anger of God rose against them and killed some of their stoutest ones, In spite of all this they still sinned and did not believe in HIs wonderful works So He brought their days to an end in futility and their years in sudden terror. When He killed them, then they sought Him, and returned and searched diligently for God; and they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer."{31-35}

Why does it take severe punishment for God's people to turn back to Him? Why don't we remember the mighty works of God? That He has indeed redeemed us?

Despite all of this, it wasn't a genuine repentance. "But they deceived Him with their mouth and lied to Him with their tongue. For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant."{36-37}

Can you believe it? God, in His wrath, kills people and the people are saying, "OK, now God is serious, lets actually start to seek Him..." but they really didn't seek Him, because God knew their hearts and their motives. They were not steadfast toward Him; they lied to Him; they deceived Him; they were not faithful.

I wonder if we are anything like that? If by our mouth we say the right things so that, to people around us, it seems as if we are turning away from our rebellious state and returning to God?

Even though God knows our hearts and our motives behind our actions, He is still full of grace. I love this next part:

"But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; and often He restrained His anger and did not arouse all His wrath. Thus He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and does not return."{38-39}

As people of God, it is our responsibility to never forget the might wondrous works of God. And to proclaim it to generations and generations: letting every generation know to put their confidence in God. And not to be like the forefathers who were "a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God."{8}

I pray we never forget.